Antimicrobial dentifrice

ABSTRACT

A stabilized aqueous dentifrice composition capable of producing or, in the presence of saliva, leading to the production of antimicrobially effective concentrations of hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN--) are herein described. The composition contains both an oxidoreductase enzyme and its specific substrate, for the purpose of producing hydrogen peroxide of at least the minimum effective concentration. The aqueous dentifrice compositions of the present invention can be stabilized against premature enzyme/substrate interaction by controlling the level of dissolved oxygen in the aqueous dentifrice carrier. Optionally, a peroxidase enzyme may be included to act upon the aforementioned hydrogen peroxide, thereby oxidizing salivary thiocyanate ions to produce the antimicrobial concentrations of hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN--). Optionally, thiocyanate ions may also be included in the compositions of this invention in an amount sufficient, together with the other inventive ingredients, to produce in excess of about 100 micromoles/liter/minute of hypothiocyanite ions during use. 
     The amount of water contained in dentifrice compositions is not important to the stability of the composition, provided that the level of oxygen is kept in control. The method of making the dentifrice composition to contain minimal amounts of oxygen is also disclosed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to antimicrobial dentifrice compositions which are capable of activating or supplementing the naturally occurring salivary peroxidase system, and methods of preventing toothdecay using said compositions. In particular, aqueous dentifrice compositions are described which, upon application and use, are capable of producing or, in the presence of saliva, leading to the production of a specific antimicrobial compound known as hypothiocyanite ion (OSCN--) or derivatives thereof. Methods of making the invented compositions are also described herein.

2. Document Disclosure

A disclosure document, No. 292830, was previously filed on this invention on Oct. 7, 1991, and retention thereof is respectfully requested.

3. Art Background

There is general acceptance as to the etiology of dental caries and periodontal disease in that microflora found in the oral environment are capable of accumulating upon oral surfaces and in unexposed pockets, thriving and producing damaging metabolites in the absence of proper dental hygiene. Colonies of microbes, undisturbed for even short periods of time, are able to aggressively adhere to the surface of enamel, establishing a foothold for further colony growth. Many of the bacterial types commonly found in the mouth secrete polysaccharides such as glucans and dextrans, which form a supportive matrix and thus provide a more mechanically stable environment for further proliferation. Subgingivally, undisturbed colonies of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria can establish similar polysaccharide matrices, in addition to pocket-type formations.

These polysaccharide matrices, together with the thriving microflora contained therein, make up what is commonly referred to as plaque. The first stages in plaque formation occur almost immediately after an enamel surface is scraped, cleaned and polished in dental office toothcleaning procedures. As colony numbers increase, and the structural integrity of the surrounding polysaccharide matrix evolves, plaque becomes a potential source of bacterial metabolites such as lactic acid. In intimate contact with the enamel surface, acidic plaque metabolites are thus capable of lowering the pH of the enamel surface to a point at which demineralization of the hydroxyapatite can occur. Such demineralization is known to be the cause of tooth decay, also known as caries. Subgingivally, plaque and pocket colonies are known to cause demineralization of both enamel and periodontal bone structure. Gingivitis and periodontitis, infection and irritation of the soft tissues surrounding the teeth, are other clinical manifestations of subgingival plaque and pocket colony proliferation.

One approach taken to decrease caries is by limiting the demineralization of enamel and bone through drinking water fluoridation. It has been shown that the fluoride provided by drinking water (and to a more limited extent, through diet) is capable of being incorporated into hydroxyapatite, the major inorganic component of enamel and bone. Fluoridated hydroxyapatite is less susceptible to demineralization by acids and is thus seen to resist the degradative forces of acidic plaque and pocket metabolites. In addition, fluoride ion concentration in saliva is increased through consumption of fluoridated drinking water. Saliva thus serves as an additional fluoride ion reservoir; in combination with buffering salts naturally found in salivary fluid, fluoride ions are actively exchanged on the enamel surface, further offsetting the effects of demineralizing acid metabolites.

A large body of data indicates that drinking water fluoridation leads to a statistically significant decrease in DMF (decayed, missing, and filled) teeth for a broad range of populations studied. Smaller, less significant effects are seen in fluoridated drinking water studies which examine changes in periodontal health. Positive periodontal effects are thought to arise through the antimicrobial effects of increased fluoride ion concentration in saliva.

However, notwithstanding the established benefits of fluoride treatment of teeth, fluoride ion treatment can result in the mottling of teeth, whether administered systemically through drinking water or topically applied. This effect is known to be both concentration related and patient-specific. In addition, the toxicology of fluoride has recently come under closer scrutiny, although there is no clear answer as to its long term effect on human health. However, for the time being, drinking water fluoridation is believed to serve a wider public good, and its effect on the dental health of populations the world over are pronounced.

Another approach to limiting the proliferation of microflora in the oral environment is through the topical or systemic application of broad-spectrum antibacterial compounds. By killing large numbers of oral microflora, it is postulated, plaque and pocket accumulation, together with their damaging acidic metabolite production, can be reduced or eliminated. The major drawback to such an approach is that there are a wide variety of benign or beneficial strains of bacteria found in the oral envionment, which are killed by the same antibacterial compounds in the same manner as the harmful strains. In addition, such treatment with antibacterial compounds may select for certain bacteria and most fungi, which may then be resistant to the antibacterial compound administered, and thus proliferate, unrestrained by the symbiotic forces of a properly balanced microflora population. Such a selected proliferative process leads to yet another clinical problem which must then be addressed with other antimicrobial strategies. Thus, the application or administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is ill-advised, except in preventative or palliative clinical situations such as oral surgery, severe periodontitis, and immune dysfunction diseases.

Less potent and more selective antimicrobial compounds have been devised, which, when applied topically, have achieved varying degrees of success in checking the growth of harmful oral microorganisms. Of particular interest and relevance to the subject matter of the present invention are those approaches which attempt to activate or supplement the antimicrobial potential of saliva.

Saliva is known to contain a variety of immunoglobulin and non-immunoglobulin antibacterial compounds as a defense against the proliferation of harmful pathogens. Such non-immunoglobulin proteins include lysozyme, lactoferrin and salivary peroxidase. These proteins, or ones similar in function, are found in virtually all mammalian mucosal secretions, providing a first line of defense against pathogenic organisms which would otherwise rapidly proliferate in such warm, moist environments. The enzyme salivary peroxidase, or SPO, functions by utilizing hydrogen peroxide (produced and excreted primarily by certain bacteria as a metabolite, but found also in newly expressed saliva) to oxidize a pseudohalide ion found in saliva, thiocyanate (SCN--), to produce a potent bacteriostatic agent, hypothiocyanite ion (OSCN--). Hypothiocyanite ion and its corresponding acid, hypothiocyanous acid (herein referred to collectively as hypothiocyanite) are able to inhibit the growth of a wide variety of harmful pathogens found in the oral environment. Depending upon the concentration of hypothiocyanite in the saliva, the salivary peroxidase system can either merely inhibit microbial metabolism or actually kill the organism. In general, it has been shown that concentrations of hypothiocyanite greater than about 100 micromoles/liter are sufficient to inhibit the metabolism of plaque bacteria.

Since the salivary peroxidase system, and thus the production of hypothiocyanite, is dependent upon the availability of hydrogen peroxide, various prior art attempts to provide sufficient hydrogen peroxide to activate or supplement the SPO system have been made. Conversely, since SPO begins to show inhibition by concentrations of hydrogen peroxide greater than about 1 millimole/liter, an effective SPO activation mechanism should not provide or accumulate peroxide molarities much higher than this. Direct inclusion of hydrogen peroxide in a mouthrinse composition at these low concentrations had been shown to activate the SPO system for short periods of time (Mansson-Rahemtulla, et al., J. of Dental Res. 62(10): 1062-1066). Another prior art attempt to generate hydrogen peroxide in situ comprised including an oxidoreductase enzyme, such as glucose oxidase, in a dentifrice (Hoogendorn, et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,150,113 and 4,178,519). The glucose oxidase thus provided would, upon oral application, react with glucose present in saliva and in plaque interstitial fluid to produce hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations. Since this approach was dependent upon the availability of glucose in the mouth, a more reproducible and predictable route to enzymatic hydrogen peroxide production was then taken by the present inventor and others by including both glucose oxidase and beta-D-glucose within a dentifrice composition. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,764). Beta-D-glucose is the anomer of glucose for which glucose oxidase is specific; in aqueous solution, glucose will mutorotate rapidly to form a mixture of approximately 65% beta-D-glucose and 35% alpha-D-glucose. In order to prevent instability and premature enzyme/substrate interaction the amount of water in the composition had to be limited to less than 10 percent. Upon use of this dentifrice composition, additional water present (from saliva and from water added in the course of normal toothbrushing procedures) would dilute the composition to a water content of greater than 10 percent, thus allowing reaction between glucose oxidase and glucose to ensue. The hydrogen peroxide thus created as a product of reaction would activate the salivary peroxidase system in saliva, producing hypothiocyanite.

Later attempts were made to provide a dentifrice composition containing a complete system of components capable of generating hypothiocyanite in situ (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,564,519 and 4,578,265). An oxidoreductase enzyme together with its corresponding substrate were combined in a single dentifrice composition with a peroxidase enzyme and a thiocyanate salt, thus providing a method of producing hypothiocyanite independent of fluctuations in salivary glucose, salivary peroxidase and salivary thiocyanate ion. Again, stability of such dentifrice compositions containing a complete enzymatic system capable of producing hypothiocyanite could only be maintained by formulating with less than about 10 percent water. Similarly, the reaction sequence was started by dilution of the dentifrice during toothbrushing.

There are numerous other examples in the prior art of attempts to provide a stable enzymatic dentifrice containing both an oxidoreductase enzyme and its specific substrate for the purpose of producing hydrogen peroxide. Stability of such prior art compositions has been achieved by either limitations placed on the amount of water contained within the composition or by physically separating (through microencapsulation, U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,528) the oxidoreductase enzyme from its specific substrate.

Another aspect of prior art techniques for the manufacture of dentifrice compositions is that they are sometimes made under vacuum, solely for the purpose of limiting the foaming of the product following the addition of a surfactant component, such as sodium lauryl sulfate, to the composition.

In light of the foregoing description, it would be advantageous to provide a stable, aqueous enzymatic dentifrice composition capable of supplementing, or, in the presence of saliva, activating, the salivary peroxidase system, in such a fashion that hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN--) are produced in excess of about 100 micromoles/liter/minute in vitro or in vivo.

It would also be advantageous to provide a stable, aqueous enzymatic dentifrice composition capable of producing or, in the presence of saliva, leading to the production of hypothiocyanite, irrespective of the composition's water content or the amount of water available for dilution upon use. Additionally, formulating latitude and economy would greatly benefit from such aqueous enzymatic dentifrice compositions produced and stabilized without regard to the amount of water contained within the formulation.

It would be of additional utility to provide a method of manufacturing a stable, aqueous enzymatic dentifrice composition which contains both an oxidoreductase enzyme and its specific substrate, without allowing any interaction thereof, and thus preventing hydrogen peroxide accumulation prior to its intended use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing description of the prior art and a desire to provide a stabilized aqueous dentifrice composition capable of producing or, in the presence of saliva, leading to the production of antimicrobial concentrations of hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN--) compositions are herein described which contain both an oxidoreductase enzyme and its specific substrate, for the purpose of producing hydrogen peroxide of at least the minimum effective concentration. The aqueous dentifrice compositions of the present invention can be stabilized against premature enzyme/substrate interaction by controlling the level of dissolved oxygen in the aqueous dentifrice carrier. Optionally, a peroxidase enzyme may be included to act upon the aforementioned hydrogen peroxide, thereby oxidizing thiocyanate ions (found in saliva or optionally included in the present compositions) to produce the antimicrobial concentrations of hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN--). In addition to containing ingredients normally found in dentifrice compositions and well known to those familiar with the art, the aqueous dentifrice compositions of the invention also contain an oxidoreductase enzyme, together with said enzyme's specific substrate, in sufficient quantities to produce hydrogen peroxide at a rate of at least 100 micromoles/liter/minute during use, and preferably from 1.0 to 5.0 millimoles/liter/minute. In addition, the aforementioned compositions may contain a peroxidase enzyme capable of acting upon the enzymatically produced hydrogen peroxide and thereby oxidizing thiocyanate ions (normally found in saliva) to form hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN--). The level of peroxidase enzyme in such compositions shall in the preferred embodiment, be sufficient to, when in contact with saliva (which contains thiocyanate ions), cause the production of at least 100 micromoles/liter/minute of hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN--) during use. Optionally, thiocyanate ions may also be included in the compositions of this invention in an amount sufficient, together with the other inventive ingredients, to produce in excess of about 100 micromoles/liter/minute of hypothiocyanite ions during use.

Another aspect of the present invention is that it has been discovered that, irrespect of the amount of water contained in dentifrice compositions comprising an oxidoreductase enzyme together with its specific substrate, premature enzyme/substrate interaction can be eliminated by limiting the amount of dissolved oxygen in the aqueous dentifrice carrier. Thus it is possible to provide an aqueous dentifrice composition containing both an oxidoreductase enzyme and its specific substrate, for the purpose of producing hydrogen peroxide upon use, which will show little or no hydrogen peroxide accumulation in advance of its intended utility. Only upon exposure to additional oxygen will the dentifrice compositions of the present invention be shown to be enzymatically active. The manipulation and control of dissolved oxygen levels in enzymatic dentifrice compositions, for the purpose of limiting an oxidoreductase enzyme/substrate interaction and thereby stabilizing said enzymatic dentifrice until its intended time of use, is unknown in the prior art.

An unexpected benefit of the ability to control the interaction between the oxidoreductase enzyme and its specific substrate by controlling the amount of dissolved oxygen in the aqueous dentifrice carrier, is the possibility of turning the reaction "on" and "off" at any given time in the course of its manufacture. Thus, controlled concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (or alternatively, if additionally formulated with both a peroxidase and thiocyanate ions, hypothiocyanite ions) may be produced in the course of manufacturing in order to reduce any microbial populations without the use of preservatives.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In its simplest form, this invention comprises aqueous dentifrice compositions containing an oxidoreductase enzyme and a substrate specific to said enzyme for the purpose of producing hydrogen peroxide upon use. In particular, only those oxidoreductase enzymes which utilize water as a co-reactant and oxygen as an electron donor, thereby producing hydrogen peroxide upon reaction with a specific substrate, are contemplated.

Suitable oxidoreductases include, but are not limited to, glucose oxidase, galactose oxidase, glycollate oxidase, lactate oxidase, L-gulunolactone oxidase, L-2-hydroxyacid oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, xanthine oxidase, D-aspartate oxidase, L-amino acid oxidase, D-amino acid oxidase, monoamine oxidase, pyridoxaminephosphate oxidase, diamine oxidase, and sulfite oxidase. The preferred oxidoreductase is glucose oxidase.

Suitable substrates are specific to the particular oxidoreductase chosen and are well known in the art. For instance, beta D-glucose is a specific substrate for glucose oxidase. Other suitable substrates include, but are not limited to D-glucose, D-galactose, L-sorbose, ethanol, tyramine, 1,4-diaminobutane, 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine, 6-hydroxy-D-nicotine, 2-aminophenol, glycollate, L-lactate, 2-deoxy-D-Glucose, L-gulunolactone, L-galactonolactone, D-mannonolactone, L-2-hydroxyisocaproate, acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde, xanthine, D-aspartate, D-glutamate, L-amino acids and D-amino acids.

The inventive dentifrice compositions shall thus contain at least one of the above oxidoreductases and at least one substrate specific to said oxidoreductase, for the purpose of producing hydrogen peroxide at a rate of at least 100 micromoles/liter/minute during use, and preferably 1.0 to 5.0 millimoles/liter/minute. Hydrogen peroxide production may be controlled by varying either the concentration of oxidoreductase or the concentration of substrate. For a given rate of hydrogen peroxide production, it is seen to be more economical to increase the level of substrate in the dentifrice composition in order to maximize the rate achievable at a specific oxidoreductase level. Oxidoreductase concentrations may be subsequently increased if substrate enhancement no longer yields a higher or desired rate of hydrogen peroxide production. In general, substrate concentrations may range from about 0.01 percent to about 20 percent or more, by weight of the dentifrice composition.

The compositions of the present invention contain, in general from about 0.1 Units to about 100 Units of an oxidoreductase enzyme per gram of dentifrice, and, optionally, from about 0.1 Units to about 1000 Units of a peroxidase enzyme per gram of dentifrice.

The hydrogen peroxide producing dentifrice described above may optionally include a peroxidase enzyme for the purpose of utilizing said hydrogen peroxide to oxidize thiocyanate ions (SCN--), which are normally found in saliva, to antimicrobial hypothiocyanite ions (OSCN--). Any peroxidase capable of utilizing hydrogen peroxide to oxidize thiocyanate is contemplated to have utility in the practice of this portion of the invention.

Suitable peroxidases include, but are not limited to, lactoperoxidase, myeloperoxidase, salivary peroxidase, and chloroperoxidase. The preferred peroxidase is lactoperoxidase.

The concentration of peroxidase shall be sufficient to produce hypothiocyanite ions at a rate of about 100 micromoles/liter/minute when interacting with the hydrogen peroxide produced by the oxidoreductase/substrate reaction and the thiocyanate ions found in saliva.

Optionally, the dentifrice compositions described above may contain a thiocyanate ion source in order to provide a complete hypothiocyanite ion producing dentifrice, independent of the availability of such ions in saliva. Thiocyanate ions may be included in the composition at concentrations of from about 0.10 millimoles/gram of liquid carrier to about 10.00 millimoles/gram of liquid carrier, as the term liquid carrier is used herein as defined below. Thiocyanate ion sources such as sodium thiocyanate, potassium thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate, and other thiocyanate salts are contemplated to have utility in such complete systems. The preferred thiocyanate ion sources are potassium thiocyanate and sodium thiocyanate.

In addition to the inventive ingredients described above, the dentifrice compositions of this invention are seen to contain many of the components normally found in such compositions and readily familiar to those skilled in the art. A number of ingredients in the inventive compositions are included or chosen to address the stability requirements for the oxidoreductase and, optionally, the peroxidase enzymes.

Dentifrice compositions of this invention contain a liquid carrier, comprised of water and a humectant, in an amount ranging from about 10% to about 90% by weight of the composition. Suitable humectants include, but are not limited to glycerine, propylene glycol, sorbitol (70% solution), polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, and mixtures thereof. The water content of the composition may typically range from about 5% to about 50% by weight, most preferably from about 20% to about 35% by weight of the total composition.

In order to achieve the desirable aesthetics of flow and flavor release in the final dentifrice composition, a thickener is advantageously included to provide and control viscosity and thixotropy. Suitable thickeners include natural and synthetic water-soluble polymers such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC, Aqualon, Inc., Wilmington, Del.) xanthan gum, calcium carrageenan, locust bean gum, gum tragacanth, hydroxyethylcellulose (Natrosol, Hercules, Inc.), sodium alginate, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid (Carbopol, B. F. Goodrich), and others. Inorganic thickeners such as magnesium aluminum silicate (Veegum, R. T. Vanderbilt) hectorites (such as Laponite, La Porte, Ltd.), and hydrated silicas (Sylodent, W. R. Grace), among others, are also useful thickeners for the dentifrice compositions of this invention.

The removal of plaque and tartar by the physical motion of toothbrushing is improved by the inclusion of abrasives in the dentifrice composition. Abrasives commonly included in typical dentifrice compositions are contemplated and include, but are not limited to, calcium pyrophosphate, calcium carbonate, hydrated silica (Sylodent), aluminum hydroxide, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, tricalcium phosphate, sodium metaphosphate, potassium metaphosphate, aluminum silicate, finely divided poly(methyl methacrylate), and mixtures thereof. In general as is known in the art, the abrasive is present in the composition in concentrations of from about 5% to about 70% by weight, and preferably from about 10% to about 50% by weight of the total composition. A dentifrice's degree of abrasivity can be measured directly or estimated from the RDA (Radioactive Dentin Abrasion) scale. The RDA scale is a measure of an abrasive's ability to erode the surface of enamel after repeated brushing. The higher the RDA score, the more enamel abraded under given conditions. High RDA scores are desired for stain removing dentifrices; low RDA scores are desired for dentifrices for sensitive teeth.

Dentifrices generally contain a foaming agent, or surfactant, to achieve the desired body and texture during toothbrushing. In addition, the surfactant provides a positive psychological impression of the cleansing process, and, to a lesser degree, helps to soften food particles and plaque to assist in their removal by mechanical means. Although desirable, it is by no means necessary to include a surfactant in the dentifrice compositions of this invention. In fact, dentifrice compositions which are not intended to be rinsed following the toothbrushing procedure, such as compositions utilized in veterinary dentistry or oral care products for individuals unable to brush their teeth by normal means, should not contain ingredients, including surfactants, which are not intended or acceptable for ingestion. In those compositions where the presence of a surfactant is desirable, though, compatibility of the surfactant with the enzyme or enzymes of the inventive compositions must be confirmed. Many anionic surfactants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (a commonly employed foaming agent for dentifrice compositions), are known to complex with and inactivate a wide variety of enzymes. Many cationic surfactants are also incompatible with enzymes. In general, nonionic and amphoteric surfactants are preferred in the present dentifrice compositions, as they exhibit, on the whole, much better overall compatibility with enzymes. The prior art addresses the problem of enzyme/surfactant incompatibility at length, and the compatibility of a particular surfactant with the inventive dentifrice compositions must be determined on an individual, compound by compound basis. Surfactants known to be compatible with the enzymatic dentifrice compositions of this invention include, but are not limited to, polysorbate 80, cocoamidopropylbetaine, cocoamphopropionate, ethoxylated (20) isocetyl alcohol, and a wide variety of propylene oxide/ethylene oxide block copolymer nonionic surfactants, such as those offered under the Pluronic tradename by BASF/Wyandotte Corp.

Since enzymes are more stable and show higher activity at specific pH levels, it is advantageous to provide one or more buffering compounds in the enzymatic dentifrice compositions. Buffers which provide a dentifrice and/or in-use pH of approximately 5.5 to 7.5 are seen to be most beneficial in optimizing the levels of hydrogen peroxide and/or hypothiocyanite ions produced. Any physiologically acceptable buffer providing a dentifrice and/or in-use pH value of from about 5.5 to about 7.5, and preferably between pH 6.0 and pH 7.0, is anticipated having utility in the practice of this invention. The preferred buffers are potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, and mixtures thereof. The preferred buffer concentrations are from about 0.01 moles to about 0.50 moles/liter of liquid dentifrice carrier (that part of the dentifrice excluding insoluble components such as abrasives).

A wide variety of auxiliary dentifrice components may be included in the present compositions, such as preservatives, whiteners, dyes, fluorides, antitartar and anticalculus agents, chlorophyll compounds, ammoniated materials, and others. Such auxiliary components should be compatible with the components and desired purpose of the enzyme/substrate system of the invention.

A suitable flavoring and/or sweetening material may be employed to achieve the desired aesthetics for the dentifrice. Examples of suitable flavoring components are oils of peppermint, spearmint, clove, wintergreen, cinnamon, sage, eucalyptus and orange. Suitable sweetening agents include saccharin, sodium cyclamate, aspartyl phenylalanine (methyl ester), glucose, xylitol, sucrose, maltose, and others. Flavoring and sweetening agents may comprise from about 0.1% to about 7.0% or more of the dentifrice composition.

In order to limit or prevent the premature production of hydrogen peroxide (or hypothiocyanite) during manufacture or storage of the inventive dentifrice compositions, the level of dissolved oxygen in the dentifrice carrier must be kept to a minimum. In general, dissolved oxygen concentrations of less than about 100 micromoles/liter (3.2 parts per million) of oxygen in a liquid carrier, are desirable. As a practical matter, manufacturing should be carried out in a low-oxygen environment, such as a vacuum, or under a nitrogen gas blanket. Although vacuum manufacturing of dentifrice is commonplace and well known in the art, it is solely employed for the purpose of limiting the development of foam following the addition of the surfactant component to the batch, and is believed never to have been heretofore utilized to limit the interaction between an oxidoreductase enzyme and its substrate in a dentifrice composition. Dissolved oxygen can be measured directly in the aqueous liquid dentifrice carrier.

The dentifrice compositions of this invention are intended to be used or otherwise applied in the manner of normal toothbrushing. Residence or contact time in the oral environment should be at least 30 seconds and preferably from about 60 seconds to 120 seconds or longer. Normally, the dentifrice is rinsed from the mouth following toothbrushing, however, non-rinse or ingestible compositions are anticipated to have utility as previously discussed.

The activities of enzymes are generally measured in terms of micromoles of substrate or co-reactant consumed, or micromoles of product produced, over a given period of time, under specific conditions of temperature, substrate concentration, and co-reactant concentrations. Any description of "unit" activity for a given enzyme should be considered carefully by evaluating a complete description of the conditions under which such activity was measured, and the present invention, as defined by the claims, is considered to be of appropriate scope to encompass the broadest definition of the term. Hereinafter, one Unit of oxidoreductase activity is intended to mean that amount of enzyme capable of producing one micromole of hydrogen peroxide per minute at 35 degrees Celcius, in the presence of excess substrate and oxygen. In addition, one Unit of peroxidase activity will hereinafter be taken to mean that amount of peroxidase capable of consuming one micromole of hydrogen peroxide per minute at 35 degrees Celcius, in the presence of excess thiocyanate ions.

In light of the foregoing definitions of Unit activity for oxidoreductases and peroxidases, the compositions of the present invention contain, in general from about 0.1 Units to about 100 Units of an oxidoreductase enzyme per gram of dentifrice, and, optionally, from about 0.1 Units to about 1000 Units of a peroxidase enzyme per gram of dentifrice.

EXAMPLE A Dentifrice Formulations Including Hydrogen Peroxide Production System

The following dentifrice formulation, shown with and without a hydrogen peroxide generating oxidoreductase/substrate system, are representative of the invention.

    ______________________________________                                                     PARTS BY WEIGHT                                                    INGREDIENT    EXAMPLE 1   EXAMPLE 2                                            ______________________________________                                         Part I                                                                         Sorbitol 70%  49.680      49.680                                               Deionized Water                                                                              14.622      14.574                                               Glucose       1.000       1.000                                                Potassium phosphate                                                                          0.177       0.177                                                Dipotassium phosphate                                                                        0.121       0.121                                                Part II                                                                        Glycerine 99.5%                                                                              5.000       5.000                                                CMC (7MXF)    0.900       0.900                                                Part III                                                                       Sylodent 756  10.000      10.000                                               Sylodent 750  10.000      10.000                                               Sylodent 2    8.000       8.000                                                Titanium dioxide                                                                             0.500       0.500                                                Part IV                                                                        Glucose oxidase F100                                                                         0.000       0.048                                                (5000 U/ml)*              (2 U/gm dentifrice)                                  Totals        100.000     100.000                                              ______________________________________                                          *Genencor Intl., Chicago                                                 

The above formulations are prepared by blending the components of Part I in a suitable container which has vacuum or pressure capability, until uniform. Simultaneously, in a separate container, the carboxymethycellulose (CMC 7MXF) portion of Part II is dispersed in the glycerine until uniform and smooth. Part II is then added to Part I and mixed. The components of Part III are then added to the PartI/Part II mixture and blended until uniform and smooth. At this stage, a vacuum is pulled in the head space of the container of approximately 28" Hg., and the mixture blended further to remove excess air and lower the dissolved oxygen level in the composition. Finally, Part IV is added to the mixture, a vacuum of 28" Hg pulled again, and blending continued for 60 minutes. Finished product is kept under a vacuum or nitrogen gas blanket until ready to fill. Finished dentifrice formulae are packaged in laminated plastic or lined aluminum tubes.

In order to measure hydrogen peroxide production under conditions similar to use, 2 grams of the above dentifrice formulation were vortexed with 2 ml of distilled water (35 deg. C.) for 60 seconds. Twenty-five microliters of capryl alcohol was then added to settle foam and the mixture vortexed for another 30 seconds, a total of 90 seconds. At 90 seconds, triplicate aliquots of 200 microliters each were drawn from the mixture and immediately added to separate 3.0 ml volumes of a hydrogen peroxide assay mixture. The assay mixture consisted of 2.0M acetate buffer (pH 4.5) containing 67 micromoles/liter of leucocrystal violet and 22 micrograms/milliliter of horseradish peroxidase. The assay mixtures were then centrifuged at 13,600×G for 2 minutes to settle solids, and the absorbance of the supernatent solution read at 596 nanometers. Readings were taken at 5 minutes following the start of the procedure above. Results were compared to a standard absorbance curve of known hydrogen peroxide concentrations.

Example 1 above did not generate any detectable hydrogen peroxide, while Example 2 produced an average of 605 micromoles/liter/minute (average of 15 measurements).

EXAMPLE B

In order to study the effect on hydrogen peroxide production of (1) varying the substrate concentration while keeping the enzyme constant and (2) varying the enzyme concentration and keeping the substrate constant, the following examples were formulated according to the same procedures outlined above.

    ______________________________________                                         INGREDIENT         PARTS BY WEIGHT                                             ______________________________________                                         Sorbitol 70%       49.680 - X                                                  Deionized Water    14.581                                                      Glucose            X                                                           Potassium phosphate                                                                               0.177                                                       Dipotassium phosphate                                                                             0.121                                                       Glycerine 99.5%    5.000                                                       CMC 7MXF           0.900                                                       Sylodent 756       10.000                                                      Sylodent 750       10.000                                                      Sylodent 2         8.000                                                       Titanium dioxide   0.500                                                       Glucose oxidase F100 (5000 U/ml)                                                                  Y (units per gram dentrifice)                               Total              100.000                                                     ______________________________________                                                         Glucose Oxidase                                                       Glucose  (Y)          Hydrogen Peroxide                                 Example                                                                               (X)      (U/gm dentifrice)                                                                           micromoles/liter/minute                           ______________________________________                                         1      0.0      0.0          0.0                                               2      0.0      2.0          0.0                                               3      0.010    2.0          66                                                4      0.100    2.0          202                                               5      0.500    2.0          520                                               6      2.000    2.0          680                                               7      5.000    2.0          694                                               8      2.000    0.1          31                                                9      2.000    0.5          175                                               10     2.000    1.0          365                                               11     2.000    5.0          1690                                              12     2.000    10.0         3353                                              ______________________________________                                    

Depending upon the desired rate of hydrogen peroxide production, the above examples demonstrate the broad range of oxidoreductase and substrate concentrations which may be applicable to the practice of this invention.

EXAMPLE C Effect of Dissolved Oxygen on Dentifrice Stability

The following dentifrice compositions were prepared in order to examine the effect of dissolved oxygen within the liquid carriers of such preparations. Compositions were made according to the procedures outlined in EXAMPLE A, except where noted.

    ______________________________________                                                    Examples                                                            Ingredients  1        2        3      4                                        ______________________________________                                         Part I                                                                         Sorbitol 70% 49.680   49.680   39.580 --                                       Glycerine 99.5%                                                                             --       --       --     34.776                                   Deionized water                                                                             14.820   14.772   24.672 29.176                                   Glucose      1.000    1.000    1.000  1.000                                    Part II                                                                        Glycerine 99.5%                                                                             5.000    5.000    5.000  5.000                                    CMC 7 MXF    1.000    1.000    1.200  1.500                                    Part III                                                                       Sylodent 756 10.000   10.000   10.000 10.000                                   Sylodent 750 10.000   10.000   10.000 10.000                                   Sylodent 2   8.000    8.000    8.000  8.000                                    Titanium dioxide                                                                            0.500    0.500    0.500  0.500                                    Part IV                                                                        Glucose oxidase F100                                                                        --       0.048    0.048  0.048                                    (5000 Units/ml)                                                                TOTALS       100.000  100.000  100.000                                                                               100.000                                  ______________________________________                                    

The above formulations were manufactured according to the procedures outlined in Example A, under vacuum, without a vacuum (at 1 atm), and under nitrogen. The dentifrices were packaged in aluminum tubes, stored at 25 degrees Centigrade for 24 hours and subsequently examined for any pH change. A reduction of dentifrice pH indicates the presence of gluconic acid, a by-product of glucose oxidase/glucose interaction.

    ______________________________________                                         Example       pH Change                                                        ______________________________________                                         1 (vacuum)    +0.100                                                           1 (air)       -0.050                                                           1 (nitrogen)  +0.050                                                           2 (vacuum)    +0.075                                                           2 (air)       -0.500                                                           2 (nitrogen)  -0.050                                                           3 (vacuum)    -0.050                                                           3 (air)       -0.650                                                           3 (nitrogen)  +0.050                                                           4 (vacuum)    -0.050                                                           4 (air)       -0.475                                                           4 (nitrogen)  +0.050                                                           ______________________________________                                    

The large changes in dentifrice pH of the above examples manufactured under air (exposed to oxygen) are indicative of the interaction between glucose oxidase and glucose within the aqueous liquid carrier of the composition. Such interaction will lead to instability during long term storage of the dentifrice and result in a poor shelf life prognosis. In addition, such interaction will result in the depletion of glucose substrate in the fluid carrier, leading to decreased activity at the intended time of use.

EXAMPLE E

The following example is prepared in accordance with the procedure outlined in Example A. It is capable of producing hypothiocyanite ions in excess of 100 micromoles/liter/minute. Compositions of this type are non-foaming and useful as ingestible veterinary dentifrices.

    ______________________________________                                         Ingredient             Amount (wt/wt %)                                        ______________________________________                                         Sorbitol 70%            49.67772%                                              Deionized water        12.85880                                                Glucose                2.00000                                                 Potassium benzoate     0.10000                                                 Potassium thiocyanate  0.01220                                                 Calcium pyrophosphate  8.80000                                                 Calcium carbonate      1.60000                                                 Sylodent 700           10.00000                                                Sylodent 2             9.00000                                                 Glycerine 99.5%        5.00000                                                 CMC 7MXF               0.90000                                                 Glucose oxidase F100 (5000 Units/ml)                                                                  0.04728                                                 Lactoperioxidase (500 Units/mg)                                                                       0.00400                                                 TOTAL                  100.00000                                               ______________________________________                                    

HYPOTHIOCYANITE ASSAY

The hypothiocyanite assays referenced herein are performed by first vortexing 2 grams of dentifrice with 2 ml of distilled water (35° C.) for 60 seconds. Twenty-five microliters of capryl alcohol was then added to settle foam and the mixture was vortexed for another 30 seconds, for a total of 90 seconds of vortexing. At 90 seconds, triplicate aliquots of 200 microliters each were drawn from the mixture and immediately added to three separate 3.0 ml volumes of a hypothiocyanite assay mixture. The assay mixture consisted of a 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 6.5) which contained 64 micromoles per liter of [5,5'-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid] (Nbs-Nbs) and 60 micromoles per liter of 2-mercaptoethanol. Free hydrogen peroxide interferes with the assay, so that catalase was included in the assay mixture at 50 micrograms/ml. Following the addition of the 200 microliter aliquots to the assay mixture, and subsequent centrifugation at 13,600 xg to settle solids, the change in absorbance at 412 nm of the supernatant was measured, and hypothiocyanite production calculated in accordance with a molar extinction coefficient for (Nbs-Nbs) of 14,300/cm.

EXAMPLE F

The following example is a preferred embodiment useful as a normal, foaming-type dentifrice intended for regular human dental hygiene. It was manufactured according to procedures described above, under vacuum.

    ______________________________________                                         Preferred Embodiment                                                           Ingredient          Amount wt %                                                ______________________________________                                         Sorbitol 70%         25.000%                                                   Glycerine 99.5%     22.800                                                     Deionized water     17.521                                                     CMC 7MXF            1.200                                                      Glucose             2.000                                                      Potassium phosphate 0.177                                                      Dipotassium phosphate                                                                              0.254                                                      Potassium benzoate  0.100                                                      Sylodent 756        10.000                                                     Sylodent 750        10.000                                                     Sylodent 2          10.000                                                     Titanium dioxide    0.500                                                      Pluronic P75        0.400                                                      Glucose oxidase (5000 Units/ml)                                                                    0.048                                                      Total               100.000%                                                   ______________________________________                                    

The dentifrice composition above produces 2.4 millimoles of hydrogen peroxide per liter of simulated toothbrushing fluid (dentifrice volume plus added water) per minute of simulated toothbrushing, in vitro.

The composition of Example F produced 290 μmoles of hypothiocyanite per liter of toothbrushing fluid (dentifrice volume plus saliva volume plus added water) per minute of toothbrushing, in vivo, thus demonstrating its ability to activated the SPO system in saliva. The composition of Example F without the addition of glucose oxidase only produced 52 μmoles of hypothiocyanite per liter of toothbrushing fluid per minute, in vivo.

EXAMPLE G

When the dentifrice of Example F was supplemented with 2.0 micromoles of potassium thiocyanate per gram of dentifrice (0.012 wt./wt. %) and 16 Units of lactoperoxidase per gram of dentifrice, it produced 430 micromoles of hypothiocyanite (OSCN-) per liter of toothbrushing fluid per minute of toothbrushing, in vivo.

It is also contemplated within the scope of this invention to provide an excess amount of oxidoreductase substrate such that the dentifrice may be manufactured under aerobic or partially aerobic conditions. Under such a manufacturing scheme, the reaction between the oxidoreductase enzyme and the oxidoreductase substrate is allowed to proceed until the oxygen level has been reduced (by way of the oxidoreductase reaction stoichiometry). At such a point in the process of manufacturing, however, the dentifrice must be thenceforth packaged or stored under the aforementioned anaerobic conditions, in order to prevent the reaction from proceeding any further. Appropriate adjustments in pH and substrate concentration(s) must be made if the dentifrice is manufactured as just described.

Also considered within the scope of the present invention are antimicrobial compositions containing an oxidoreductase enzyme and an oxidoreductase substrate, stabilized against premature reaction by limiting the level of dissolved oxygen, which are for purposes other than the dental applications previously described, for instance, as topical antimicrobial compositions, ophthalmic antimicrobial compositions, and cosmetic, food, or pharmaceutical processing additives. Applications requiring an antimicrobial product of an oxidoreductase enzyme/substrate interaction to be provided by a single-component, storage-stable composition are contemplated.

The foregoing description of the invention is intended to be exemplary with respect to certain preferred embodiments and it will be understood that modifications and variations thereof obvious to those skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of this application and the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An anaerobically packaged dentifrice composition with an antibacterial system comprising:a liquid carrier comprising an oxidoreductase enzyme and an oxidoreductase enzyme substrate, wherein said enzyme and substrate form hydrogen peroxide when reacted together, said hydrogen peroxide being formed at a rate of at least 100 micromoles per liter per minute; wherein said composition contains oxygen in a limited concentration such that level of dissolved oxygen in the fluid carrier cannot support substantial formation of the hydrogen peroxide, said dentifrice having been anaerobically manufactured, stored and packaged entirely in a vacuum or in an inert gas environment and having a level of dissolved oxygen at less than 3.2 parts per million and being packaged in an oxygen impervious package or container.
 2. The composition of claim 1 wherein dissolved oxygen is contained in said composition in a concentration of less than about 100 micromoles/liter of liquid carrier.
 3. The composition of claim 1 wherein said hydrogen peroxide is formed at a rate in the range of 1.0 to 5.0 millimoles/liter/minute.
 4. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a peroxidase enzyme for oxidizing thiocyanate ions to hypothiocyanite ions.
 5. The composition of claim 1 wherein said hydrogen peroxide does not accumulate to a concentration greater than about 1.0 millimole/liter during use.
 6. The composition of claim 1 wherein said oxidoreductase is selected from the group consisting of glucose oxidase, galactose oxidase, glycollate oxidase, lactate oxidase, L-gulunolactone oxidase, L-2-hydroxyacid oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, xanthine oxidase, D-aspartate oxidase, L-amino acid oxidase, D-amino acid oxidase, monoamine oxidase, pyridoxaminephosphate oxidase, diamine oxidase, and sulfite oxidase.
 7. The composition of claim 6 wherein said oxidoreductase is glucose oxidase.
 8. The composition of claim 1 wherein said substrates are specific to the particular oxidoreductase and are selected from D-glucose, D-galactose, L-sorbose, ethanol, tyramine, 1,4-diaminobutane, 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine, 6-hydroxy-D-nicotine, 2-aminophenol, glycollate, L-lactate, 2-deoxy-D-Glucose, L-gulunolactone, L-galactonolactone, D-mannonolactone, L-2-hydroxyisocaproate, acetaldehyde, butyraldehyde, xanthine, D-aspartate, D-glutamate, L-amino acids and D-amino acids.
 9. The composition of claim 1 wherein said oxidoreductase is glucose oxidase and said substrate is beta-D-glucose.
 10. The composition of claim 4 wherein the peroxidase enzyme is selected from lactoperoxidase, myeloperoxidase, salivary peroxidase, and chloroperoxidase.
 11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the peroxidase is lactoperoxidase.
 12. The composition of claim 4 wherein the peroxidase is provided in an amount sufficient to produce hypothiocyanite ions at a rate of at least 100 micromoles/liter/minute.
 13. The composition of claim 1 further comprising thiocyanate ions at concentrations of from about 0.10 millimoles/gram of liquid carrier to about 10.00 millimoles/gram of liquid carrier.
 14. The composition of claim 13 wherein said thiocyanate ion is provided by the compounds selected from sodium thiocyanate, potassium thiocyanate, ammonium thiocyanate and other thiocyanate salts.
 15. The composition of claim 13 wherein said thiocyanate ion is provided by potassium thiocyanate and sodium thiocyanate.
 16. The composition of claim 1, wherein said composition comprises a fluid carrier, comprised of water, in an amount ranging from about 5% to about 90% by weight of the composition.
 17. The composition of claim 16 further comprising a humectant selected from glycerine, propylene glycol, sorbitol (70% solution), polyethylene glycols, polypropylene glycols, and mixtures thereof.
 18. The composition of claim 16 wherein said water comprises in the range from about 10% to about 50% by weight of said composition.
 19. The composition of claim 17 wherein said water comprises from about 20% to about 35% by weight of the composition.
 20. The composition of claim 1 further comprising a thickener selected from natural and synthetic water-soluble polymers selected from sodium carboxymethylcellulose, xanthan gum, calcium carrageenan, locust bean gum, gum tragacanth, hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium alginate, starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyacrylic acid and inorganic thickeners selected from magnesium aluminum silicate, hectorites and hydrated silicas.
 21. The composition of claim 1 further comprising abrasives selected from the group consisting of calcium pyrophosphate, calcium carbonate, hydrated silica, aluminum hydroxide, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, tricalcium phosphate, sodium metaphosphate, potassium metaphosphate, aluminum silicate, finely divided poly(methyl methacrylate), and mixtures thereof.
 22. The composition of claim 21 wherein said abrasive is present in the composition in concentrations of from about 5% to about 7% by weight.
 23. The composition of claim 21 wherein said abrasive is present in the composition in concentrations from about 10% to about 50% by weight.
 24. The composition of claim 1 further comprising at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of nonionic and amphoteric surfactants.
 25. The composition of claim 24 wherein said surfactant is selected from the group consisting of polysorbate 80, cocoamidopropylbetaine, cocoamphopropionate, ethoxylated (20), isocetyl alcohol and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide block copolymer nonionic surfactant.
 26. The composition of claim 1 having a pH in the range of approximately 5.5 to 7.5.
 27. The composition of claim 26 wherein said composition further comprises a physiologically acceptable buffer.
 28. The composition of claim 27 wherein said physiologically acceptable buffer is selected from potassium phosphate, sodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, and mixtures thereof.
 29. The composition of claim 27 wherein said buffer is in a concentration from about 0.01 moles to about 0.50 moles/liter of fluid dentifrice carrier.
 30. The composition of claim 1 further comprising additives selected from the group comprising preservatives, whiteners, dyes, fluorides, antitartar and anticalculus agents, chlorophyll compounds, ammoniated materials, flavorings and sweeteners. 